February 4, 2010

Fun and Games at the National Prayer Breakfast

I had a great time this morning looking at these pictures and comparing the radically different spin….

Picture 1 – Visual Media perspective: The hypocrisy of the philandering, but Christian Conservative Governor Sanford is called out, for exaggerated effect, by framing him next to camera-loving young babe, as if the Gov had her stashed behind his back.

Picture 1 – White House perspective: The presence of one more hypocritical right-winger models contrasts well with a President preaching about political values and accountability. Also, once the sinners have been publicly humiliated, they are much easier to keep in line.

Picture 2 – Visual Media perspective: In a wonderfully funny play on the culture wars, photographers capture proselytizing football star Tebow next to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”-buster Mullen looking in opposite directions, as if the two don’t see eye (scripture) to eye.

Picture 2 – White House perspective: Call it a brilliant seating arrangement to juxtapose these two public figures on the heels of Mullen’s DODT announcement yesterday and Tebow’s controversial role in a pro-life Superbowl commercial this weekend. It’s a combo which models both Obama’s passion and his political tactic — in high gear since the SOTU — to call out political extremist, intransigents, and especially, the nay-saying right, by presenting one picture after another to the American people that rhetorically drives home the question: why can’t we/they just get along?